The effects of equipment Pilates and yoga as adjuncts to home-based exercises for chronic non-specific neck pain

INTERVENTION: Randomised to either Equipment Pilates + Exercises or Yoga + Exercises EQUIPMENT PILATES Range of Pilates exercises focusing on stretching, breathing, and whole body movement and muscular stabilisation: 60mins, 2x / week, for 8 weeks. Personal instruction on all exercises for every session on an individual basis, by 4th or 5th year osteopathy student who is also Pilates qualified and experienced. Instruction ongoing throughout each class. Attendance register kept to monitor adherence. YOGA Hatha Yoga ‐ stretching, strengthening, breathing and relaxation focused: 60mins, 2x / week, for 8 weeks. Personal instruction on all exercises for every session on an individual basis, by 4th or 5th year osteopathy student who is also yoga qualified and experienced. Instruction ongoing throughout each class. Attendance register kept to monitor adherence. EXERCISES Range of appropriate exercises to relieve non‐specific neck pain, such as back, neck and shoulder stretching and strengthening 5‐10 mins, 7x / week, for 8 weeks Initial personal instruction on all exercises, for approximately 30 minutes until correct technique can be performed. Instruction given by a 4th or 5th year osteopathy student who is also either Pilates or yoga qualified and experienced (one of the same two instructors who are delivering the Pilates and yoga interventions). Participants will have access a YouTube video with full descriptions of exercises for use during the study. Adherence monitored by way of weekly phone/email contact. CONDITION: Chronic non‐specific neck pain PRIMARY OUTCOME: Disability as measured via Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) Pain as measured via visual analogue scale (VAS) Quality of Life measured via Health Outcomes Questionnaire Short‐Form 36 (SF36) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Credibility/expectancy perception measured via Credibility Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ) INCLUSION CRITERIA: Neck pain at least 30mm/100mm for most days in the previous 12 weeks Non‐specific neck pain that has not required imaging Able to read, speak and comprehend English language